The Acharnians, page 40 by Aristophanes
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Pisistratus.
DICAEOPOLIS Oh, Peace! companion of fair Aphrodite and of the sweet Graces, how charming are thy features and yet I never knew it! Would that Eros might join me to thee, Eros, crowned with roses as Zeuxis[1] shows him to us! Perhaps I seem somewhat old to you, but I am yet able to make you a threefold offering; despite my age I could plant a long row of vines for you; then beside these some tender cuttings from the fig; finally a young vine-stock, loaded with fruit and all around the field olive trees, which would furnish us with oil, wherewith to anoint us both at the New Moons.
f[1] The celebrated painter, born in Heraclea, a contemporary of Aristophanes.
HERALD List, ye people! As was the custom of your forebears, empty a full pitcher of wine at the call of the trumpet; he, who first sees the bottom, shall get a wine-skin as round and plump as Ctesiphon's belly.
DICAEOPOLIS Women, children, have you not heard? Faith! do you not heed the herald? Quick! let the hares boil and roast merrily; keep them a-turning; withdraw them from the flame; prepare the chaplets; reach me the skewers that I may spit the thrushes.
CHORUS I envy you your wisdom and even more your good cheer.
DICAEOPOLIS What then will you say when you see the thrushes roasting?
CHORUS Ah! true indeed!
DICAEOPOLIS Slave! stir up the fire.
CHORUS See, how he knows his business, what a perfect cook! How well he understands the way to prepare a good dinner!
A HUSBANDMAN Ah! woe is me!
DICAEOPOLIS Heracles! What have we here?
HUSBANDMAN A most miserable man.
DICAEOPOLIS Keep your misery for yourself.
HUSBANDMAN Ah! friend! since you alone are enjoying peace, grant me a part of your truce, were it but five years.
DICAEOPOLIS What has happened to you?
HUSBANDMAN I am ruined; I have lost a pair of steers.
DICAEOPOLIS How?
HUSBANDMAN The Boeotians seized them at Phyle.[1]
f[1] A deme and frontier fortress of Atti